18 Months Too Young to Introduce the Potty?

Hi! I got a potty chair for my son around that age (he is now 26 months) and put it in his bathroom. He would want to sit on it before and after his bath when he was already naked. He goes all the time on it but I was waiting until this summer to try more consistent potty training. We got the Fischer Price Potty and he loves all the songs, flusher, and toilet paper roll.

It's never too young! My daughter was trained by 22 months. She never liked being wet or dirty. (I also rarely used disposables)

18 months isn't too early if he is interested. For him to be really potty trained as in telling you he needs to go, requires him to know himself that he needs to go. he may or may not be there yet but even if he is not quite there, he can be popped on the potty at regular intervals and go. Lots of cultures potty train much younger than the US. There is one school of thought that suggests that waiting actually makes potty training harder as the child is so used to sitting in his or her stuff. I would let him try and see how you go. If he doesn't like it, you can go back to diapers and if he does, excellent. Interest is definitely a major part of potty training. good luck.

Nah. If he's ready, go for it.

Then send him over to my place. I've been trying to train my four and a half year old for almost two years, and she still wets herself daily. She could use a little of whatever he's got:^)

Hi Bonnie!
Your son sounds just like my daughter! At 18 months I got my potty out and she started sitting on it and loved it. I let her do it when she wanted. Now at 20 months she has been in underwear the last few days(with encoragement from other Mamasource moms) and has done GREAT! No accidents the last 2 days! If they are interested--do it!!

Good luck!
L.

Definately introduce him. He is giving you the signs that he is ready. Even if he doesn't use if full time right now, if he shows interest, he's ready to start learning. My daughter is only 16 months, and I introduced the "big girl potty" to her about a month and a half ago. She was doing the same things your son is doing. Although she isn't using it often enough to really be in the "potty training" mode... she DOES use it. This has really helped her to understand what it's for and why it's there.
GOOD LUCK!

Absolutely start your son potty training but - yes, you still could be potty training after 6 months - could be sooner - could be a lot later. It's not up to you when he stops going in his pants. You can only guide him and encourage him, keeping it a positive experience.

Congrats Bonnie!
Your son has the brilliance to master potty training in a day or so and be almost perfect in a week....
Get some training pants for him in the soft cotton with extra padding ..(Once he starts training it is never back into diapers so as not to confuse him....)
YOu can read the ppbk " TRAINING IN 24 HOURS" or just get a supply of treats...Summer is a good time for small popsycles(sp?) or any other special thing he really enjoys...Maybe mini cookies...And give him several occasions before and after meals or snacks to sit on the potty while you read him the potty book...lOTS OF LIQUIDS ALL DAY WILL INCREAS CHANCES OF SUCCESS....pRAISE AND CELEBRATE HIS SUCCESSES AND WAVE BYE BYE TO THE EVENTUAL FLUSH...OR NOT DEPENDING ON YOUR plan....He will be a big boy in no time!!!!
Always stress that growing up attitude ...even when it comes to introducing new foods...That's o.k. , You'll like it when you grow up!
As smart as he is , i do hope you have lots of puzzles and shape games for him....part to Whole and whole to all the parts is a very fine concept to reinforce...
My boys are both grown and into fine lucrative successful careers but it all startd when they were pre-schoolers...Hugs to a great M. Boonie! From D. J

Go ahead and start the process but don't have any high expectations. He might be ready or he might be imitating you. There's really no harm in planting the seed but follow his lead and don't pressure him.

My daycare provider started him on the potty at 12 months. I was simply amazed! He's 14 months now and we of course are not accident free, but it helps lessen the amount of diapers I have to wash (we cloth diaper).

He is ready to try.....if you don't see results in a couple of weeks, set it aside for a while then try again. Most children begin potty training about age 2, some are ready sooner (ie:your 18mo child) and others later (ie: 3yr). Both normal. and mostly I applaud your interest in reading your child's messages (good to hear the child is telling you he is ready rather than you training yourself to meet some arbitrary time frame) Best of Luck!

Absolutely not too young. I trained the little girl I watch at 19 months and she did great.

I read somewhere recently that in most other countries throughout the world they train their kids around 18 months. This article explained that waiting until 2 or 3 was actually making things worse because kids get so set in their ways by then and then tend to fight you about potty trianing.

He is showing all the signs of being ready. Go for it. Spend the day naked so he can figure out what exactly pee and poopies is...have a potty chair nearby at all times. Don't use pull-ups because they are glorified diapers and they cost too much. I just put a diaper on when we went somewhere and explained it was just in case.

No, I started my daughter when she was 6 months old, she was done by 10 months (during the day) and completely accident free at night by the time she was 18 months old. I didn't force the issue or give rewards/punishment, just made it a normal thing to do. good luck.

Now is the perfect time. If he wants to use it let him.
Good luck to you.

S.

Ok since you need to hear it from someone else that has raised 2 sons. Yes introduce the potty since he is already telling you when he needs to go. He has already let you know that he is ready so here is your confirmation that it is ok. My oldest was trained at 18 months because he wanted to go to the toilet like us. Listen to your child he is screaming get me a potty.

there is a window of opportunity and you are seeing it. Most parents ignore it or miss it cause they don't think kids can start that young. They can! And they can have great success. He may be great for 2 weeks then have a week of accidents, but stick with it and by the 4th week you will be diaper free.

Remember nap and night time still use a diaper, that is a totally different thing as it involves a hormone that controls the body making it not have to pee while sleeping.

Good luck and go for it!!

I let my daughter sit on a little potty even earlier. She did both pee and poop on the potty sometimes not all the time, certainly not at night.I stay at home so I figured if I praised her a lot and she thought it a good thing to sit on the pot not some forced torture we might get lucky. She was trained with rare accidents at two.Some might say we trained a long time but it was not stressful ...for the most part, and we saved some diapers. I will try this again with my son.
Good luck.

Yes, he is ready. The best time to start is when you and your child are ready. For some M.'s, this is at birth, for others, when their kids are 3.

Studies show that a lot of it has to do with M. motivation and belief.

I was potty trained at 15 months. My own 15 month old daughter isn't as ready, but we have a potty, and she"go naked" thing outside and get her to truly understand the nature of pee and poop and where it's suppose to go. My goal is to be seriously potty training by 18 months, so in my book 18 months is the perfect age.

Go for it never to young if your son is truly interested!!

I would follow his lead and get him a potty chair. See what happens.

Now! Start now!

Seriously, there is no need to wait if your son is interested. He clearly is ready. I started my son art 18mo...he lost interest for awhile, but was potty trained by 2.5 and since he was leading the way (as opposed to me) he practically trained himself!

I would follow his lead and let him sit on the potty and try to do this now while he is interested!